• About US
  • Our Work
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • Login
JFJ - Journalists for Justice
  • Home
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Human Rights
  • Elections
  • About US
  • Our Work
  • Careers
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Human Rights
  • Elections
  • About US
  • Our Work
  • Careers
No Result
View All Result
JFJ - Journalists for Justice
No Result
View All Result

ICC Prosecutor warns of atrocity crimes as Ukraine crisis escalates

ICC Prosecutor warns of atrocity crimes as Ukraine crisis escalates

byJanet Sankale
February 26, 2022
in The ICC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
ICC-Prosecutor-Karim-Khan-QC-24. Photo: Twitter

ICC-Prosecutor-Karim-Khan-QC-24. Photo: Twitter

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Kham QC has joined the outpouring  of concern that has greeted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that his office would prosecute any act of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes committed within the territory of Ukraine since February 20, 2014, “ including by ordering, inciting, or contributing in another manner to the commission of these crimes”.

He reminded all sides involved in the hostilities that a September 2015 declaration by Ukraine accepted the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), thus giving his office the authority to investigate any such crimes.

“It is imperative that all parties to the conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” Khan said in a statement dated February 25, 2022.

He pledged that his office will continue to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine and promised to issue a detailed statement “providing clarity on my assessment and the next steps I envisage” on his return from a mission in Bangladesh .

RelatedPosts

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova in Ukraine Conflict

Darfur victims to wait longer for justice as Khan’s new strategy faces challenges

New ICC Registrar to take office in April

“In the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate, the Office [of the Prosecutor] (OTP) remains fully committed to the prevention of atrocity crimes and to ensuring that anyone responsible for such crimes is held accountable,” he said.

Khan said the court cannot exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression because neither Russian nor Ukraine are states parties to the Rome Statute.

“My office has also received multiple queries on the amendments to the Rome Statute with respect to the crime of aggression which came into force in 2018, and the application of those amendments to the present situation,” said the statement.

After the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Ukraine lodged the declaration (https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/other/Ukraine_Art_12-3_declaration_08092015.pdf) accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes committed in its territory since February 20, 2014. The declaration, lodged under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, enables a state that is not a party to the statute to accept the exercise of the jurisdiction of the court.

On April 17, 2014, Ukraine lodged a second declaration under the same article accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC over alleged crimes committed on its territory from November 21, 2013 to February 22, 2014 onwards.

In 2020, the OTP concluded that there is a reasonable basis to believe that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the court had been committed in the context of the situation in Ukraine.

The crimes include murder and torture committed during the ‘EuroMaidan’ protests in 2013 - 2014, and war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014, and in Crimea after Russian troops occupied and illegally annexed the peninsular.

A preliminary examination was closed by the ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and so far investigations have not been open yet. In December last year, Khan said there were no updates on the case yet.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has won international condemnation. United States President Joe Biden termed it an “unprovoked and unjustified attack”. The Group of Seven (7) industrialised nations promised severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions against Moscow.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “bring your troops back to Russia”.

The chief of the European Union Executive Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, said the bloc will hold Moscow accountable for the “unjustified” attack.

Protests against the invasion have been reported in major cities in Europe, including Russia itself,  and the United States.

Tags: ICC
Previous Post

Breaking the silence: Justice seen through Africa’s cartoons

Next Post

Will technology fail Kenyan voters again?

Next Post
Technology Service Providers of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Fiona Asonga speaking during the data conference, Digital Infrastructure and Data for Elections in Kenya

Will technology fail Kenyan voters again?

Please login to join discussion

Recent Posts

  • New marathon international trial in The Hague?
  • ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova in Ukraine Conflict
  • Félicien Kabuga’s IRMCT trial suspended indefinitely over dementia claims
  • Darfur victims to wait longer for justice as Khan’s new strategy faces challenges
  • The Hague to host new Ukraine Damage Register

Follow us on Twitter

JFJ – Journalists for Justice

We call out impunity wherever it occurs; we advocate justice for all victims of atrocity crimes; and we work with people of goodwill everywhere who share our values.

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Loading

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Human Rights
  • Elections
  • About US
  • Our Work
  • Careers

Copyright © 2019. Journalists for Justice has asserted its right to be recognized as creators and owners of the content here. Reproduction in part or in whole is permitted on condition that JFJ is acknowledged and notified.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.